Category: Travel
Stephanie in Africa
Posted by stephaniewm on April 28, 2009
It’s 6.45, Monday night, my birthday. I’ve told no-one. The rain on the corrugated iron roof sounds like a large, angry waterfall crashing to earth. It’s only completely dark because the clouds are blackl It almost feels as if the world is coming to an end in this most Christian of countries.
After a lunch on the hoof today (squished baby banana on a slice of bread) I bought a cameral Mad I know but I’m not in Africa every day and I want to make some little videos and take a picture of every child. And a picture of my old hand with a tiny soft black one laid on top with its tiny fingernails glowing like soft pearls.
We went to look at solar cookers after printing out moona’s brilliant hot tips on solar stuff and compost toilet usage. The solar place was a joy and we should have bought one on the spot, 10 quid. Now we think that to9morrow we will, just one, partly to experiment on and partly to persuade the oldies that solar is good, and free, They are a bit small for the orphanage although 2 would do and one would be perfect for the family here (next to the orphanage) and one each for many groups of widows.
We meet Nancy and husband Jonas an attractive and engaging couple who own and run the orphanage and with whom I’m staying. “Don’t you want to use a warm shower and a nice toilet?” asked Deleen, a middle aged, plump american missionary, who I went to visit this morning. She was kind and friendly to Jim and
Lisa from EDA when they stayed next door to her a couple of weeks ago. But I had no desire for either. Actually I quite like squatting in a bowl of cold water every morning and as for the other thing, my aim is getting quite good. Sorry!
Anyway, almost at an end. When we got back to the orphanage, no sooner had I thrown a tomato and avocado sandwich down my throat than I was hussled to the dining hall to meet 45 widows who’d just had a god meeting led by Nancy’s mum. When they saw me they cheered and clapped then I was hugged and squeezed and kissed by the lot of them who queued up for the dubious privelige. I then asked if they would like to ask questions about where I came from and we had a great session with me holding forth as I am wont to do. Later this week we’ll give them the solar cooker demonstration.
And now, back to the storm, the lightening and thunder and the lovely smell of kerosene lamps lighting the room enough for me to write by and to see the family lit up like a Delacroix painting.
Kisses to all,
Stephanie
One Response to “Stephanie in Africa”
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May 12th, 2009 at 10:29
Hello Stephanie. I would love to know where in Africa you are? and later (July?August?) hear about it in person. I went to a world music festival in Timbuktu Mali in January and fell for Africa. Wold love to compare notes. Tessa xxxx